title: Preventing gaps when switching contraceptives.
abstract: Unintended pregnancy can occur when women stop one birth control method before starting another. To prevent gaps in contraception, physicians should ask women regularly about adverse effects, cost, difficulty remembering the next dose, and other issues that affect adherence. Women who want to change contraceptive methods need accurate advice about how to do so. Some contraception transitions require an overlap between the old method and the new method. To switch safely from one contraceptive to another without overlap, women may go directly from the old method to the new method, abstaining from sexual intercourse or using a barrier method, such as condoms or spermicide, for the first seven days.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Residency in Urban Family Practice, New York, NY, USA. rlesnewski@institute2000.org
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lesnewski
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prine
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ginzburg
mesh_terms: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007436:Intrauterine Devices, Medicated; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000187:drug effects; D011372:Progestins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D011372:Progestins